13 May 2021 09:19 pm
As per the gazette notification issued by the government, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday turned down a request made by a multi-national company to permit manufacturing of 24 gsm sachets.
Minister Amaraweera said the Ministry prohibited manufacturing five types of polythene and plastic based products with effect from March 31, as part of the government's policy to curb the use of polythene and plastics in the country.
As per the gazette notification, production of sachets less than 20 gsm, which contributes heavily to environmental pollution, was banned.
However, the Ministry granted a grace period of three months to sell all the products of these companies in bulk.
However, defying the ban, a multinational company had released four types of 24 gsm sachets, each of which had not been manufactured before.
The Minister directed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to immediately suspend their environmental permits and to inspect the institution immediately as to whether any action taken against them in defiance of the Government's decision.
Meanwhile, a group of senior officials of the multinational company met the Minister and requested him to allow their company to manufacture the 24 gsm sachets. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Environment recently.
However, Minister Amaraweera rejected the request and instructed them to act in accordance with the gazette notification issued by the government. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)